DETROIT, June 14 /PRNewswire/ -- A pilot program that teaches medical residents how and why to screen patients for domestic abuse received a national award from the Chicago-based Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Blue Care Network and Wayne State University’s School of Medicine developed the program.
The Michigan Blues’ initiative is one of only 11 programs to earn Best of Blue status among more than 165 entries submitted by more than 30 Blue Cross and Blue Shield health plans nationwide.
Recognized for outstanding physician education and communication, the program provides training sessions on social, medical and legal issues of domestic abuse. Sessions include presentations by physicians, domestic violence agency staff, county prosecutors and abuse victims. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network coordinate the program, underwrite the speaker fees and provide attendees with free toolkits to help them screen for and assist domestic violence victims.
“Helping physicians to recognize the possibility of domestic abuse when examining patients is an important component to physician training,” noted Dr. Mark Juzych, assistant dean for graduate medical education for the Wayne State University School of Medicine. “This is an important pilot program and one that I hope will be expanded in the future so that more physicians can be prepared to treat victims in the most appropriate and compassionate way.”
“Through the Best of Blue Awards, we underscore the national and local leadership that Blue Plans have demonstrated throughout our 75-year system history,” said Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association president and CEO Scott P. Serota.
The Michigan Blues also won an honorable mention in the marketing communications category for the company’s Ben-e-fit brochure, which explains the value the Blues offer to prospective customers.
Best of Blue judges hail from all walks of health care including external health industry experts, academic researchers, representatives of government agencies, consumer advocates, employers and health care consultants.
The awards were presented at the BCBSA Marketing, Communications and National Program Delivery Conference in Philadelphia.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, a nonprofit corporation, provides health care benefits to 4.8 million members through a variety of plans: Traditional, Blue Preferred and Community Blue PPOs, Blue Choice Point of Service, and the Blue Care Network HMO. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network are nonprofit corporations and independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. For more information, visit http://www.bcbsm.com/ .
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
CONTACT: Bill Semion of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan,+1-313-225-7975, MediaRelations@bcbsm.com
Web site: http://www.bcbsm.com/
